Bottling apparatus.



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E.E.FORD- BOTTLING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 20, 1900.

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No. 732,678. I PATENTED JUNE 30, 1903.

E. E. FORD. I

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' PATENTED JUNE a0, 1903. E.E.FORD.

BOTTLING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 28, 1900. N0 MODEL. 4 SHEETS-SHEET,3..

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PATENTED JUNE 30, 1903.

E.E.FOR D. BOTTLING APPARATUS.

APPLIOATIOH FILED AUG. 28, 1900. N0 MODEL. 4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

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.thereon, which form a UNITED STAT-ENS Patented-June 30, 190 3 5 PATENT OFFICE.=

ELIOT E. FORD, OF RAHWAY, NEW JERSEY.

BOTTLING APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION fOrmiDg part of Letters Patent N 0. 732,678, dated June 30, 1903.

Application filed August 28. 1900. Serial No. 28,278. (NomodeLl To all whom, it may concern:

Beit known that I, ELIOT E. FORD, a citizen of the United States, residing in Rahway, in the county of Union and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in BottlingA pparatus; and I dohereby declare the following tobe a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same,

reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to letters of reference marked part of this specification.

My invention relates to the art of bottling efierves'cent or non-effervescent liquids, as the case may be, and is classified under what is known as bottling apparatus.

My invention has for its object a simplified and novel method of charging a suitable nu n1- ber of bottles-for instance, as illustrated in the drawings, twenty-fourwith any kind of effervescent or non-effervescent liquids.

To obtain a clear understanding of where my improvements reside in this apparatus, I can enumerate them in the following order: first, in the improved valve, which discharges the air from the bottle and fills it in two movements; secondly, in the means by which the said valves are operated, consisting of a series of frames having my'im proved valveoperating sliding bar secured in each of the said frames; thirdly, in the special construction of liquid-filling pipes having the valveseats located therein; fourthly, in the improved bott-le-receptacle for adjusting the bottles in relation to their respective nozzles, and, lastly, in the general construction of the machine, which naturally will be novel in several of its details, caused by the cooperation of these my above-m entioned means with each other.

In describing my improved bottling apparatus I shall call attention to the accompanying drawings, wherein a preferable embodiment of the invention is illustrated.

Like letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the different views.

Figure 1 shows an elevation of the apparatus; Fig. 2, an end view of the apparatus as shown in Fig. 1; Fig. '3 is a view observed from the same'point of view as Fig. 2, drawn tu'rned at an angle of ninety degrees from the position it is in in Fig. 5. Fig.7 is an end view of the filling-pipe as it is seen in Fig. 3. Fig. 8 is an elevation of-my improved device for holding the bottles. Fig. 9 is a full-sized sectional detail View of my improved valve,

and Fig. 10 is adiagram of my improved apparatus shown in working order with the. V

filling-tank and the vacuum-pipe.

In the figures,'A, A and A indicate the visible standards, supporting the bottle or vessel filling apparatus.

A is a' platform on which the receptacle containing the bottles will be placed, the said platform A being slidably attached to the standards by bushes A A", and A the invisible bush being secured around the invisible standard.

A and A indicate connecting-rods, said rods pivoted to the platform A and to the cranks A and A .The standards are secured in respectively the pedestals A and A and further supported in said pedestals is the crank-shaft A which shaft has keyed to it the cranks A and A Keyed on this shaft'A is a handle-bar A", which handlebar when moved in the direction of the arrow A will by the action of the cranks A and A having the connecting-rods A and A l pivoted to them, move the platform A upward or downward by reason of said connecting-rods A and A being pivoted in the lugs A and A ,.forming parts of the said platform A. The upper part of this apparatus has a double T-shaped frame B, secured to the top of each standard by nuts B, B and B and counter-nuts B, B ,'and E the fourth invisi: ble nut and counter-n u't being attached to the corresponding invisible standard. Bolted on the upper frame B are six sliding-bar frames B, B B B B and B called by this appellation sliding-bar frames in this application for the reason that they each contain one of the sliding bars, which sliding bar will be seen to be an essential element in the operation of opening and closing the valves, as will be understood more clearly as the description proceeds. Inasmuch as all these sliding-bar frames are constructed exactly alike-that is to say, contain the same number of elements and are operated in precisely the same mannerthe description of one of these will be sufficient. Before proceeding to this detail description of the sliding-bar frames I will continue the description of the apparatus as a whole, as that will render more lucid at a later point the description and operation of the sliding-bar frames and their accessories. It may be as well to point out here that in the inventive conception and construction of these frames and their accessories-the valvesthe nucleus of my inventive idea may be said to reside. Bolted to the under side of the frame 13 is a series of pipes C, C C C C and C one pipe corresponding to each sliding-bar frame. Bolted to the end of each of these pipes at what might be called the rear end of the machine, meaning thereby the end opposite to the one on which the manipulator of the handle-bars stands, as indicated in Fig. 2, is a pipe D, which pipe D connects with the filling-tank D, as seen in Fig. 10. Further, a series of pipes or tubes E, E E E E and E, made of some resilient flexible material, are attached to a certain mouthpiece located in each of the frames B to B, as will be better understood in the detailed description of the individual frame later on in the description of this invention, which tubes connect with a main pipe E, which pipe E leads to the vacuum apparatus F by means of a pipe E (See Fig. 10.)

Proceeding now to the detail description of one of the sliding-bar frames, Fig. 3 gives an enlarged view of a part of one of such frames-for instance, of the frame B Said frame B is attached to the frame B, as shown at one end of the frame B in Fig. 3, by means of bolts. The shell of this frame as observed in the end view in Fig. 4 is U- formed, but as attached to the frame turned upside down. Sliding between two sets of rollers, (indicated by reference-letters G, G G and G,) as seen in Fig. 2, one set of which rollers G and G is shown in Figs. 3 and 4, is the sliding bar II, of which sliding bars there are six, (6,) one for each frame. Said sliding bar II as observed in the sectional view, Fig. at, is rectangular in section and is furnished with four (4) slots 1, 1 I and I 'lhese slots have an upward and a downward slanting direction, as plainly seen in Fig. 3. The frame B has furnished in its sides eight slots, four on each side, of which I and I can be seen in Fig. 3,1 and I in Fig. 4. In these slots I and 1 as relating to the frame B the rollers 1 and I operate, the roller H operating in the slot 1 of the sliding bar H simultaneously with the rollers I and 1 operating in the slots I and 1. The rollers I and I and the roller H are mounted on a pin 1", the roller H consequently passing through the slot I and projecting out to either side passes also through the holes J and J of the arms J and J of a yoke J. This yoke J, as shown in detail in Figs. 5 and G, will be seen to be furnished at the bottom with a screw-cut aperture J into which aperture, as will be explained more fully later on, the valve-rod K of the valve K is fitted. Projecting from the bush J having said screw cut aperture J and consequently forming the bottom of the yoke J, is a pipe J having in every instance except in that of the end yoke J (illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6) two mouthpiecesas, for instance, in the case of the yoke J in Fig. 3said mouthpieces indicated by reference-letters J and J. The yoke J being an end yoke has only one mouthpiece J The said mouthpieces are connected with each other by means of rubber tubes as, for instance, J and J in Fig. 3or tubes made of any adequate material suitable for such purpose, the reason for such tubes being of a resilient matter being this, that when said yokes are being moved up and down there might be a slight deviation in their alinement. The last yoke appertaining to the sliding-bar frame has one of its mouthpieces turned vertically upward, and to this upturned mouthpiece in the instance of each yoke (see Figs. 1 and 2) are attached vertical tubes E, E E E E and E, which tubes, as has already been described, connect with the main pipe E, which finally leads to the vacuum apparatus F. Attached, as previously stated, to each of the screw-cut apertures at the bottom of the yokes is a valverod, and for the sake of clearness in description the enlarged view of the valve K is appended in Fig. 9, which view I shall now describe. The said valve K consists of the following parts: K indicates a hollow valve-rod, whose upper screw-cut part is secured in the similarly screw-cut part of the bush J forming the bottom part of a yoke. This hollow rod runs smoothly and loose through the interior of the valve and has at its lower end a valve K which closes the internal passage K from communication had'by means of the apertures K and K in the valve-rod K with the the interior of any bottle or vessel that may be attached to it. The said passage K has by means of an aperture K" furnished in the valve rod K communication through the mouthpiece J and through the tube attached thereto with the vacuum apparatus F. Compressed between the lower flange of the bush J and a nut K that closes the stuffing-box K is a coiled spring K". The stuffing-box K has the customary space K for inserting adequate stufling material, so as to make an air-tight connection. In the lower part of the stuffing-box K there is formed an inside flange K between which flange and the upper edge of a second hollow valvewrod K embracing the first valve-rod K, there is comratus.

pressed a second coiled spring K This second valve-rod K has at its lower end a valve K the flange forming said valve having a disk K, of resilient material, attached, which disk K rests on the valve-seat K. This valve K establishes connection between the pipe 0 and the'interior of the bottle or vessel attached. Forming apart of or otherwise attached to the bottom circumference of the pipe 0 is a nozzle K having the customary air tightening-disk K inclosed by means of the screw-cut cap K, said cap secured to the screw-cut bottom of the nozzle. On the top circumference of the pipe 0, diametrically opposite to the said nozzle, is an aperture screw-cut at the top, into which screw-cutpreviously described and their mode of opera This rsum will only embrace theation. sliding bar and the operation of one of its slots, taken in connection with one valve, inasmuch as that will be descriptive of the entire appa- To understand this action, only Figs. 2, 3, 4, and 9 are needed. Observing Fig. 3, it will be seen that if a push were'exercised on the sliding bar H in the direction of the arrow H such movement would on'account of the downward slant of the slot 1 result in a forcing down of the yoke J by reason of the roller H (see Fig. 4) being located with both of its ends in the holes J and J of the yoke J, resulting in a downward movement of the valve-rod K, thus opening the valve K and through the holes K and K opening communication between the passage K and the interior of the bottle or vessel, terminating in the exercise of the functions of functions of the two springs K and K will,

readily be understood under these circumstances. K primarily when the action of the sliding bar is to open the valve K will aid said valve K in closing itself in addition to the relax on the power that has forced it down, and additionally said spring will keep said valve K closed when the sliding bar H acts according to arrow H -that is, in the opposite direction. the other hand, only one function to perform and that is of aiding in the closing of the valve K Referring at this place in the descriptionto the bottles, it can be understood that various different means can be devised to contain the bottles while onthe platform duringv As an example of such theprocess of filling. means the device illustrated in Fig. 8 is furnished. The main point to overcome in such a device is to have a resilient stand for the bottles to rest upon possessing the faculty of equalizing the bottles having different lengths The spring K has, on

in their relation to their respective nozzles.

This necessity will be apparent when it is taken in consideration that no two bottles will be of the same precise length, which difference if not equalized would give rise to a great deal of waste, more especially in the ease of efiervcscent liquids. Said device in Fig. 8 consists of a box M, where M indi cates one chamber showing two bottles placed therein on my improved equalizingrest. This rest or pedestal has two plates M and M both pivoted to a lever M, which lever is pivoted in its center of gravity to a hollow cap M coiled spring M which coiled spring rests on the bottom of the box and can of course, if

required, be attached to the bottom by very,

simple means. If new two bottles be placed on this rest, one on each of the plates M and M it will be evident that if there should be would yield on the side having the highest bottle and correspondingly elevate the shorter bottle.

Alluding now to the diagrammatical view. shown in Fig. 10, said view shows my improved bottling apparatus connected with a filling tank D and with a vacuum apparatus consisting of a reservoir F and a pump F and a pressure-charging device It. Reviewing at large'my apparatus, the lever A willbe tion of the arrow H so as to bringabout the first of the desired results-viz., making the sliding bars H to H empty the bottles of air, and, secondly, by a movement of the lever.

P in the opposite direction, thatof the arrow H closing the Vacuum device and opening the valve K, so as to fill the bottles or vessels from the series of filling-pipes O- to O This cap M has lying inside of it a a difierence in their lengths the lever'M H Taking now a comprehensive review of these T enumerated details as invented by meand set forth here, I will first state a few mechanical details in connection with the motion of-the hand-lever P. Said lever is keyed to a shaft P, (see Fig. 2,) which same shaft has two cranks, of which one, P is seen in Fig. 2, the

other one lying directly behind it in this view,

and it can then be easily understood that if a rod P is passed through the upper arms of said cranks and at the same time through slots cut in the sliding bars in alinement with the holes in the said upper arms of the cranks all the sliding bars H to H will be in operative unison with the motions of the lever P. Consequently a manipulation of the lever P in the alternate directions (indicated by the arrows H and H will have the effect of alternately opening and closing the valves K and K The entire operative method of the bottling apparatus is, as follows: After the bottles (twenty-four in number) have been placed in some kind of receptacle by any adequate means and been so adjusted as to insure the mouth of each bottle coming directly under its corresponding nozzle the lever A is manipulated, which will have the efiect of raising the platform A until the nozzles contact with the bottle-heads. The operator thereupon grasps the handle of the lever P and by pushing said handle slightly in the direction of the arrow H (see Fig. 2) moves the six sliding bars H to H in the same direction, whereby each downward slanting part of the slots forces the pins having the rollers mounted on them downward, and as the said movement is guided by the pins being movably inclosed in the vertical slots furnished in the sliding-bar frames the movement will be vertically down- Ward, thereby pushing all the inner valverods downward and opening up communication between the inside of the bottles or vessels and the vacuum apparatus. If now the lever P be reversedthat is to say, pulled in the direction of the arrow H -then the valves K will be closed and the second and external valve-rod K will by means of the first valverod K be elevated, thus securely closing the valve K and establishing communication between the filling-pipes O to C and the interior of the bottle or vessel. When the bottles or vessels thus have been filled, the lever A is reversed, and the bottles or vessels on the platform A having been filled are removed and a new series of twenty-four bottles or vessels take their place, and the above operative methods are repeated.

In conclusion, Fig. 10 gives a diagram matical sketch showing my bottling apparatus as it is connected with a filling-tank D by a pipe D A pressure-pump R is attached to the tank D, and a vacuum apparatus, consisting of a reservoirF and a pump F, is by the pipe E connected with each individual set of valves as they are located in their respective sliding-bar frames.

It can of course be realized that in an apparatus of this nature several mechanical details can be altered and improved upon; but what I specifically claim as novel and as forming the main parts of my invention are, first, the valve, its combination with a pipe system; secondly, the sliding bars and their operative combination with the said valves; thirdly, the sliding-bar frames and their general construction and arrangement bringing them into operative harmony with the rest of the means, such as the sliding platform, which of course I lay no claim to, the same being old in the state of the art.

It is to be understood that many changes in the construction and operation of the several parts of the apparatus may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Ialso wish it to be understood that the number of bottles or vessels can be either increased or decreased, according to local demands and circumstances, and that, furthermore, the size or individual construction of the vessels or bottles is immaterial, for this reason, that those machines can be built and are being built to suit any number or sizes of bottles or vessels. As anillustration I might say that one sliding bar, for instance, inclosed in its corresponding frame with all the necessary accessories, having either one or more valves operated therefrom, can be built, the number of sliding bars and the number of bottles filled merely depending on local circumstances.

The inventive principle embodied in the construction of this machine will further operate with equal facility and be equally useful whatever the nature of the liquid may be--- that is to say, whether it be effervescent or non-efiervescent.

What I claim, and desire to secure protection for by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination with a bottling apparatus of a series of valves, each valve having two valve-rods, and a slotted sliding member for successively operating all of said valves, substantially as and for the purposes described.

2. The combination with a bottling apparatus, of aseries of valves each provided with independent stems and one stem working within the other, a series of sliding bars in engagement with the valve-stems for successively operating the valves, and means for bringing a series of bottles or vessels in cooperative relation With said valves, substantially as described.

3. The combination with a bottling'app'aratus, of a main frame, a series of frames secured to the main frame, sliding bars supported in the frames, autifriction-bearings for the sliding bars, and bottle-engaging means operated by the sliding bars; substantially as described.

4. A bottling apparatus provided with a frame, a sliding bar, having one or more slots substantially as described, moving in said frame, a stud having antifriction means furnished in each of said slots and means guiding said stud located in the said frame.

5. The combinationinabottling apparatus of a series of frames attached to said apparatus, a sliding bar moving in each of said frames, antifriction means supporting and guiding said sliding bar in the frames, means connecting each sliding bar with a series of valves and operating the same substantially as described.

6. The combination in a bottling apparatus of a series of frames, a sliding bar operated between antifriction means attached to each of said frames and moving therein, a series of yokes connecting a series of valves operatively with the said sliding bars substantially as described.

7. The combination in abottling apparatus of a series of frames, a sliding bar operating in each of said frames, antifriction-bearings for supporting the sliding bars, a series of yokes attached intermediate the said sliding bars and a series of valves corresponding in number to the yokes, each yoke having a passage-Way substantially as and for the purposes described.

8. A bottling apparatus provided with a frame, a sliding bar having one or more slots as described, operated in said frame, a yoke furnished for each slot with means of attach-- ment at its lower end, a stud corresponding to each slot having antifriction means attached, connecting operatively the said sliding bar by passing through a slot, with the yoke corresponding to said slot substantially as described.

9. A bottling apparatus provided with a valve having one internal hollow valve-rod with passage ways, a coiled spring lying around its upper part, one external hollow valve-rod embracing the said internal valverod, a second coiled spring lying around said external valve-rod, a seat formed at the bottom of the external valve-rod cooperating with the valve of the internal rod substantially as described.

10. In the combination of a reservoir having one or more seats, with one or more corresponding valves cooperating with said seats, each valve having an internal hollow valverod furnished with passage-Ways, a coiled spring lying around said valve-rod, an external valve-rod embracing said internal valverod, a second coiled spring acting on the external valve-rod, a seat formed at the lower end of the external valve-rod cooperating with the valve of the'internal valve-rod and a valve-flange furnished on the said external valve-rod cooperating with the said seats of thereservoir substantially as described.

11. The combination in a bottlingapparatus of a series of pipes secured to the frame of' said bottling apparatus, valve-seats provided insaid pipes, a series of valves corresponding to and cooperating with said valve-seats, a

' liquid-filling pipe attached to, and by vents furnished therein communicating with each pipe having the valve-seats substantially as described. 12. Thecombination in a bottling apparatus of one or more frames, a slidingbar moving operatively in each frame, one or more up-and-down obliquely-slanting slots furnished in each sliding bar, a series of valves corresponding to the slots cooperating with each sliding bar, a yoke corresponding to each slot in the sliding bar connecting operatively the sliding bar and the valve, a stud or pin guided in the sliding-bar frame, having antifriction ,means, connecting the sliding bar and the yoke substantially as and for the purposes described.

13. The combination in a' bottling apparatus of one or more frames secured to the main frame of the bottling apparatus, a sliding bar moving operatively in each frame, a series of valves operated by the said sliding bars, one or more liquid-filling reservoirs having valveseats corresponding to and cooperating with said valves, a series of yokes having vents or passage-ways provided therein connecting operatively the valves and the sliding bars,

means for operating simultaneously all the ratus, of a sliding member, a valve operated 17. The combination with a bottling apparatus, of a sliding member provided with an irregular oblique slot, and a valve connected with said slot, said valve being reciprocated by the sliding member, and means for moving the sliding member; substantially as'described. v

18. The combination-with a bottling apparatus, of a sliding member provided with a slot, means for moving said member, a yoke straddling the sliding member, means Working in the slot for reciprocating the yoke, and a valve carried by the yoke; substantially as described. y

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto setmy hand this 14th day of August, A. D. 1900. 7

' *ELIOT E. FORD. Witnesses:

HENRY J oHNsoN, AUGUST M.TREsoHoW. 

